Category Archives: Red Wines

RAYMOND FAMILY CLASSIC CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010, North Coast, California

03 Sunday Jun 2012

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Raymond Family Classic Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, North Coast Bottle

Cost: $18.95
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: USA
Region: North Coast
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Raymond Vineyard & Cellar
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Mild cedar with ripe blackberry, dark chocolate, mesquite, leather, some pencil shavings & celery on the finish. Medium+ weight & tannins with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: A little too much celery & not enough berry fruit.

Interesting Point: For my sommelier friend Roberto in the Cayman Islands, Blackbeard’s:  this wine goes with artichokes!

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it grilled steak with steamed artichokes with olive oil & steak sauce spice.

Tasted: 2 Jun 12

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10, Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

LCBO#: 269761

PENFOLDS KOONUNGA HILL CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009, South Australia

31 Thursday May 2012

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Penfolds Koonunga Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, South Australia Bottle

Cost: $13.65
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Australia
Region: South Australia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Penfolds Wines Pty. Ltd.
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Medium+ ruby in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Classic Cab notes while being restraint from going to jammy in a lot of inexpensive Australian Cabs & the alcohol being under 14%. Wine shows cedar, cassis, blackberry, cloves, leather, turmeric, pencil shavings, ripe tamarind & a touch of eucalyptus. Medium to full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: GET IT WHILE IT’S AVAILABLE. Now that I got your attention, LCBO has this wine on sale for $13.65.

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with T-Bone steak.

Tasted: 30 May 12

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 45625

PELEE ISLAND GAMAY NOIR ZWEIGELT 2009, VQA Ontario

31 Thursday May 2012

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Pelee Island Gamay Noir Zweigelt 2009, Ontario VQA Bottle

Cost: $10.95
Grape Variety: Gamay Noir, Zweigelt
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Pelee Island Vineyard Inc.
Alcohol: 13.0 %
Description: Medium minus ruby in colour a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Smokey nose featuring blackberries, mulberries, raspberry, cherry, lime & peppers. The taste shows similar notes. Medium minus body with low tannins, good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: Have this wine slightly chilled.

Drink now on its own or pair it with hummus.

Tasted: 29 May 12

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 216028

ANDREW RICH CUVÉE B PINOT NOIR 2008, Willamette Valley, Oregon

27 Sunday May 2012

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Andrew Rich Cuvée B Pinot Noir 2008, Willamette Valley Bottle

Cost: $29.95
Grape Variety: Pinot noir
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Willamette Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Andrew Rich Wines
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Description: Medium minus ruby colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: A very elegant wine whose style is between old world & new world Pinot. Notes feature pine, cherry, cranberry, rhubarb, cinnamon, nutmeg, pistachio, earth tones & suede. Medium minus body with low tannins, medium+ acidity and long length.

Negatives: None.

Drink slightly chilled on its own or pair it with squash soup & roasted duck.

Tasted: 26 May 12

Top Pick

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 127043

MAGNOTTA IL CACCIATORE GRAND RISERVA 2008,

26 Saturday May 2012

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Red Wines

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Cost: $26
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenère

Category: White Wine
Appellation: Magnotta
Country: Unknown
Region: 

Format: 750 mL
Producer:  Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Description: Medium minus garnet with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Cedar, cassis, plum, blackberry, black cherry, chocolate, blackcurrant, mesquite and tamarind on the finish. Medium+ body with medium tannins, good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: A little heat coming from the 14.5% alcohol.

Interesting Things: A nice looking bottle with artist Follente’s work on the label. A collector’s addition.

Tasted: 26 May 12

Score: 9/10, Value: 8.5+/10, Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4


BERINGER MERLOT 2009, Napa Valley, California

24 Thursday May 2012

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Beringer Merlot 2009, Napa Valley Bottle

Cost: $29.95
Grape Variety: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Foster’S Wine Estates Americas
Alcohol: 14.4 %
Description: Deep ruby in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Cedar, English fruitcake, cinnamon, cocoa, plums, blackberry, cherry cola & dry sage on the finish. Full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity & long length.

Negatives: Some heat coming from the 14.4% alcohol.

Interesting Point: In comparison to the Beringer Knights Valley Cab, just reviewed, which is very similar in price, the Knights Valley is superior.

Drink now on its own or cellar it for another 5 years. Pairs well with braised beef.

Tasted: 23 May 12,

Score: 9/10, Value: 8.5/10, Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

Tasted 25 May 12: I had left some wine to taste two days later and it was gorgeous, just as I had hoped for when I originally opened it up. The notes that rose to the forefront were: cassis, cloves, smoked bacon, cinnamon and espresso. I am upgrading my score to 9+/10, value: 9/10, total: 18.5/20 and out of 5 stars: 4.5

LCBO#: 919647

BERINGER KNIGHTS VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009, Knights Valley, Sonoma, California

24 Thursday May 2012

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Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Knights Valley, Sonoma County Bottle

Cost: $34.95 (in sale: $31.95 until 27 May 12)
Grape Variety: Cabernet-Sauvignon
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: LCBOO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Sonoma County
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Beringer Vineyards
Alcohol: 14.3 %
Description: “This classic Sonoma Cab is brimming with sensuous aromas of cassis, toasty oak, black coffee, vanilla and spice. The dry palate is loaded with sweet fruit and toasted oak flavours which are nicely offset by a lively acidity. It’s a classy, medium-full-bodied wine, with a long, fruity and firm finish. This is an excellent companion for beef carpaccio, filet mignon or grilled lamb chops.” LCBO

Medium ruby in colour with an intense nose.

Positives: Lots of flavour on both the nose & taste showing cedar, cassis, plums, cloves, blueberries, blackberries, vanilla, leather, pencil shavings & turmeric. Full body, medium tannins, good acidity & long length.

Negatives: A touch hot from the high alcohol.

Interesting Points: A quality consistent wine that is easy to drink on its own or to pair it with food & it taste more like a $50 wine. LCBO usually has this on sale a couple of times throughout the year. I love the black label with the silver detailing.

Drink now or cellar it for another 5 years. Pair it with beef Wellington.

Tasted: 23 May 12

Top Pick

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 9+/10, Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5+

LCBO#352583

DOMAINE SERGENT OAK AGED MADIRAN 2008, AC Madiran, Maumusson, South West France

20 Sunday May 2012

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Domaine Sergent Oak Aged Madiran 2008, Ac Bottle

Cost: $16.90
Grape Variety: Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Madiran
Format: 750 mL
Producer: M.T. Vins
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium ruby with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Lots going in this wine. The nose brims with cedar, sandalwood, leather, pencil shavings, cinnamon, sage, cloves, plums, blackberry & expresso. The taste has similar notes as the nose but with mint, red currants & pomegranates. Medium to full body with medium+ tannins, good acidity with a very long length.

Negatives: Quiet a bit of heat coming from the 14.5% alcohol.

Interesting Point: This wine won gold in Paris in 2010. I would encourage everyone to try to explore wines that come from areas around the world that are generally not accessible unless you visit the specific location. Lucky the LCBO has brought us wine from Madiran.

Drink now or over the next 3 years. It’s enjoyable on its own but would pair even better with rack of lamb or grilled tenderloin steak.

Tasted: 19 May 12

Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9.5/10, Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 251561

PASSADOURO VINHO TINTO 2008, DOC Douro, Portugal

13 Sunday May 2012

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Passadouro Vinho Tinto 2008, Doc Douro Bottle

Cost: $21.95
Grape Variety: Red Wine
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Portugal
Region: Douro
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Quinta Do Passadouro
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Dark ruby with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Violets on the nose with plum, cinnamon, peppercorns, cherry, figs, blackberry, mocha, leather, olives, vanilla & black currants. Full body with medium+ tannins, good & long length.

Negatives: Slight heat from the high alcohol.

Interesting Point: Classic Port notes without the sweetness of desert wine.

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with beef coq au vin.

Tasted: 12 May 12

Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9.5/10 , Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 267997

IRONY MERLOT 2009, Napa Valley, California

13 Sunday May 2012

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Irony Merlot 2009, Napa Valley Bottle

Cost: $17.00
Grape Variety: Merlot
Category: Red Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Napa Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Delicato Family
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: “Classic Napa Merlot with aromas of black cherry, mocha, raspberry and vanilla. Elegant use of oak gives the whole package a fine structure and balance. The producers suggest enjoying this wine with roast beef, grilled chicken, baked ham, a classic cheeseburger or rich minestrone soup.” LCBO

Medium ruby with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Plums, milk chocolate, mulberries, sweet cherry, rhubarb, some leather, cumin, red liquorice, cinnamon & all spice. Medium body, medium tannins, good acidity & long length.

Negatives: Lots of heat coming from the listed 14.5% alcohol. Some bitterness on the finish.

Interesting Points: This wine should please those that like their reds with a slight sweetness & lots of alcohol.

Drink now on its own or pair it with BBQ beef ribs.

Tasted: 12 May 12, Score: 8+, Value: 8.5/10, Total: 17/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3+

LCBO#: 183186